Power cycle test apparatus and method for testing power cycle of computing device

Abstract

A method controls a computing device to perform a power cycle test by switching a power supply on or off using a power cycle test apparatus. The apparatus includes a timer, a counter, a power rectifier, and a display unit. The timer sets a test period of the power cycle test, controls the power rectifier to switch the power supply on, counts a test time of the power cycle test at the begin time of the test period, and controls the power rectifier to switch the power supply off when the test period elapses. The power rectifier transforms AC supplied by the power supply into DC when the power supply is switched on, provides the AC to the computing device to perform a power-on test process, and controls the computing device to perform a power-off test process when the power supply is switched off.

1 . An apparatus for testing a power cycle of a computing device, the apparatus comprising:
 a power rectifier operable to transform alternating current (AC) supplied by a power supply into direct current (DC) when the power supply is switched on, provide the AC to the computing device to perform a power-on test process, and disconnect the power supply with the computing device to perform a power-off test process when the power supply is switched off; and   a timer operable to set a test period of a power cycle test for the computing device, control the power rectifier to switch the power supply on, count a test time of the power cycle test at the begin time of the test period, and control the power rectifier to switch the power supply off when the test period elapses.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the power supply is an AC power device that supplies the AC to the computing device for performing an AC power cycle test, or a DC power device that supplies the DC to the computing device for performing a DC power cycle test. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a counter that is operable to set a test number of the power cycle test, decrease the test number by one when the computing device performs one power cycle test, and determine whether the test number is equal to zero. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the timer is further operable to reset the test time as zero when the test number is not equal to zero. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a display unit that is operable to display the test time and the test number in real time, and display a test result of the power cycle test when the test number is equal to zero. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the display unit is a light-emitting diode (LED), or a seven-segment display that displays the test time and the test number in a digital number format. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is a personal computer (PC), a notebook computer, or a server. 
     
     
         8 . A method for testing a power cycle of a computing device, the method comprising:
 setting a test period of a power cycle test for the computing device using a timer;   controlling a power rectifier to switch a power supply on, and counting a test time of the power cycle test at the begin time of the test period;   transforming alternating current (AC) supplied by the power supply into direct current (DC);   providing the AC to the computing device to perform a power-on test process;   controlling the power rectifier to switch the power supply off when the test period elapses; and   disconnecting the power supply with the computing device to perform a power-off test process.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the power supply is an AC power device that supplies the AC to the computing device for performing an AC power cycle test, or a DC power device that supplies the DC to the computing device for performing a DC power cycle test. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 setting a test number of the power cycle test.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 decreasing the test number by one when the computing device performs one power cycle test;   determining whether the test number is equal to zero;   resetting the test time as zero if the test number is not equal to zero, and performing a next power cycle test; and   displaying a test result of the power cycle test on a display unit if the test number is equal to zero.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 displaying the test time and the test number in real time on the display unit; and   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the display unit is a light-emitting diode (LED), or a seven-segment display that displays the test time and the test number in a digital number format. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the computing device is a personal computer (PC), a notebook computer, or a server.